Textile printing apparatus



Sept. 12, 1944. H. A. SMITH TEXTILE PRINTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1940' 93 mm ml w mm Herrfi an A. h,

(Ittorne'g wilness Herberf 6. Covey .se mz, 1944. H. A. SMITH v 2,a5s,112

TEXTILE PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9, 1940 s Sheds-Sheet 2 H m 5mith (Ittotneg Herbert 5. Covey 3nventor Sept. 12, 1944. v HQA. SMITH 1 TEXTILE PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9,1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I! 4 x 58 19 7 I R as + Starting andpglwgclrol F.

' V 'Z'mventor Herman A. Smith c2 1 wflness qttorneg Herbert S. Covey diameter of the roll.

Patented Sept. 12, 1944 1* UNITED STATE TEXTILE PRINTING APPARATUS Herman A. Smith, Holden, Masa, assignor to Rice Barton Corporation, a corporation of 'Mass achus'etts Application Thisinventionrelates to textile printing machines, and particularly tothe power driving 'mechanisms whichldrive the printing rolls and November 9, 1940,. Serial No. 365,121 10 Claims. (o 101-178).

other mechanisms have their speeds synchro- .nized without; regard to variations in the driving the drying drums or other cooperating'apparatus that move the fabric being printed.

A textile printing machineof this type comprises a seriesr'of coordinated mechanisms which insure that a roll of-fabric may be printed in one or a multiple of colors and then dried by heated drums and passed through otherapparatus to a suitable receiver.

its edges,- and this back gray cloth'may likewise 'be dried by means of separate heated drums. {The printing is accomplished by means of enrate "of the printer. It, therefore, is desirable to provide a mechanism which'operates automatically to insure a full synchronization of the speeds of the fabric and the backing cloth as they pass over their drying drums or other desired apparatus with the speed of the fabric as it is a drawn forward by the printing roll in the print- 10 It is customary to have a back gray cloth travel withthe fabric through the printing zonein ordert'o receive any "ink that may'pass through the fabric orbeyond graved copper rolls removably mounted on power driven mandrels which'press' the fabric against a freely rotatable backing cylinder-and thereby pull the fabric through the printing zone.

When agiven printing run has been completed,.

the printing roll may be removed and another roll of a'diiferent diameter may be substituted therefor, or the engraved face of the first roll ing machine.

- A primaryobject of this invention is to.ov er- .come such problems and to provide an apparatus of-thistype in which the speeds of theprinting press and another fabricmoving mechanism are synchronized so that the fabric may be moved. properlyfor the printing and subsequent operations audit will not-be run slack or be pulled out of shape by improper tension. 7

A further object-is to provide a mechanism? which automatically synchronizes thespeed on the fabric drying drum' and the printing press; I so that the fabric willmove under" proper ten sion through both the printing and drying operl ations irrespective of the primary: reference speed may be ground'away and'a new engraving made thereon. In either case, if the printing "roll is driven by a constant speed motor, then the rate.

applied to one of-these moving parts.

Afurther object of this invention is to synchronize thespeeds of the printing press and of movement of the fabric through the printing zone necessarily varies in accordance with the customarily provide dwith a, wrapping of many layers of cloth or with a rubber covering to form a, resilient medium against which the printing pressure is applied. 3 The thickness of that fabric or rubber layer may not'be held uniform at the time of its application and it may decrease under the pressure of a long continued printing operatiom' or'the resilient surface of the rubber covering may need to be renewed'by grinding .away its hardened external layer.

Hence, the diameter of the cylinder varies from time to time. Consequently, problems are in- "volved in the attempt to connect mechanically the printing roll or its backing cylinder with the drying drums and other mechanismsif there is to be a'proper synchronization or the speeds of the driven parts. Onthe other hand it is necessary that the printed fabric with its wet The backing cylinder is any variation in the speedof the'fabrie to the the mechanism that moves the back gray cloth. A further object is to provide a speed coordinating apparatus in accordance with which printing or any other treatment zone-serves automatically 'to'vary the speed of separately -driven mechanisms and insure P proper synchronization of the different parts of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide a reference 'speedunit which moves at the exact speed of the fabric in the-printing zone and which is not affected by variations in the size of the printing roll or backing cylinder and which therefore iwillserv'e as a reference speed unit for the purpose of coordinating the speeds of the other portions ofthe apparatus therewith. v A further object isto provide a reference speed unit moving at the rate of the fabric being printed and to control thereby an automatically actuated speed coordinating mechanism which insures that various separately driven motors will drive the fabric or the-backing cloth at the same or required speeds in different portions of the entire apparatus. Further objects will apparent in'the following disclosure.

In accordance withthis invention, I have pro vided a. textile printing apparatus in which cloth.

whether a fabric to be printed or a back gray cloth, is moved at two remote by independent motors and associated" mechanisms. One motor may move the cloth through the printing zone and the other may drive an independent cloth moving mechanism, such as a drying drum. One motor serves as a master motor and the other is a secondary or controlled motor. In order that the cloth may be driven at the same rate by the two motors, I provide a speed reference unit which moves in an invariable speed ratio relative to the speed of the cloth at a point where it is driven by one of said motors. This unit may be any part of the machine which moves always at the cloth speed, or in a. fixed ratio relative thereto, and it is preferably a part which moves at the speed of the cloth in the printing zone. This unit automatically governs a speed control mechanism which causes the secondary motor to move the cloth at the same rate as it is moved by the master motor, irrespective of variations inmotor speeds or the texture of the cloth. This synchronization may be effected by various types of apparatus'which are. either mechanical or electrical,

or both. i a i Referring to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodimentof this invention:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic'view of a textile printing apparatus having a printing machine and associated driers for the printed fabric and z the back gray cloth, together with coordinating mechanism which insures that the speeds of the .various units are synchronized;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail in section and partly in elevation of a differential unit employed in the speed coordinating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified form of difierentialunit; and

Fig. 4 is adiagrammatic view of the electrical wiring and, speed coordinating 'mechanisms.

The textile printing apparatus illustrated in the drawings comprises one or more printing 5 rolls") engaging the periphery of a backing cylinder II and so arranged that the fabric I2,

- with or without a back gray cloth l4 and/or an endless rubber or other type of blanket l5; may. I be passed between the printing rolls and the,

cylinder for the desired printing operation; The backing cylinder is preferably mounted for free rotation about its axis, and it is driven solely by II; and the latter in turn meshes with the driving gears 20 which are positively connected to rotate the printing rolls. 7 i

The fabric to be printed may be derived from the supply roll 22 suitably mounted on standards and arranged to have its fabric withdrawn therefrom asneeded by the printer. Similarly, the back gray cloth may be derived from another roll 24, and the fabric and back gray are led over suitable sets of roller's intothe printing zone with the back gray cloth l4 arranged between the fabric and the backing cylinder. The rubber blanket lies between these and the cylinder II. .The fabric leaving the printing zone passes around a set of suitably heated drying drums 26 which are mounted and arranged in accordance with standard practice. The fabric is preferably passed around these drums in such a manner that first one side and then the other is subjected to the drying heat. From these drying drums, the fabric may be then led to other apparatus, such as a swinging folding device 28 which may be driven by a belt 29 connected to a pulley on one of the drums 26. This comprises a swinging arm and power driven rolls adapted to fold the fabric into a suitable receptacle. The details of construction of the drying apparatus and the folder or other apparatus employed may follow any suitable standard construction and need not be described herein.

These fabric drying drums are positively rotated by means of an electric motor 30 of suitable construction and characteristics, which is preferably a, direct current motor wound to run at a constant speed that may be varied as desired. This motor is connected by a belt or chain 3| to a pulley on one of the drums, and this in turn is connected through belts or chains 32, 33 and 34 to drivethe other drums, as will be understood. The back gray cloth l4 similarly travels from the printing zone to a second set of suitably constructed and arranged drying drums 36 which are connected to rotate together in the direction ofcloth movement. The cloth may go back to the printer in an endless travel, or it may pass to a'wind up roll 31 or other suitabledevice. This wind up roll may be mounted on a pair of rolls 38, one of which is suitably driven by a chain connection 39 with a pulley on thelast drying drum 36. This set of drying drums may be driven byan independent con' stant speed direct current electric motor 40 of desired characteristics, which is connected by l 1 a chain drive 4| to one of the drums. The other drums may be connected by chain belts to the driven drum to insure their synchronization. The apparatus as so far described may be made in accordance with standard practice and various types of construction and arrangements may be employed;

The primary feature of this invention deals with. synchronizing the speeds of the different parts of the apparatus witha selected reference unit. Since the size of the printing roll varies from time to time and the diameter of the back- I ing cylinder itself is variable, I prefer to employ as a referenc unit. a separate element which receives the speed of the traveling fabric or backing cloth or rubber blanket and is not affected by variable conditions. unit preferably comprises a freely rotatable roll 50 (Fig. 1) mounted on the ends of arms 5| pivotally supported on a part of the framework 52.

. The roll 50 bears under pressure and preferably -mechanisms shall be a reference unit representing the speed of the fabric or back gray cloth or the endless blanket, to which the speeds of the other mechanisms are referred and with which they are synchronized. The speed ref- This reference erence unit moves with the fabric in an invariable speed ratio, irrespective of variations in the texture of the driven web or of changes in the operating conditions or of the speed of the master motor which drives the speed reference prises adifferential automatic speed control unit arranged to control the shunt field of the motor to be synchronized. A device of this type com prises two shafts 54 and 55 suitably mounted in bearings in the framework 56. A pulley'I fixed to'the shaft 54 is mechanically connected, as by a belt 58, with a pulley 59 on the reference unit Each motor has a series field Sand a shunt field SF. The shunt field of the printer motor I6 is connected across the terminals of the machine through a rheostat R which is adapted to vary the current in the shunt field and thereby vary the speed of the printer motor. Likewise, the shunt field of the motor 30 for driving the-drums is connected across the terminals of the motor through a wiring system including a resistance R adapted for varying: the speed of the motor 30. The current flow to the shunt field is also arranged to be controlled through a variable rheoor roller 50. The pulley 60 on the other shaft 55 is connected by a chain belt 6| (Fig. 1)' with a pulley 62 which is mounted on'the shaft of one of the drying drums 26 or is otherwise mounted to be driven at a speed which is proportional to the speed of the motor 38 that drives the drums. A third shaft 64 mounted between the shafts 54 and 55 carries an ordinary difierential gear system of the type found in automobiles, and the two parts of this differential are respectively connected to the two shafts. This comprises a gear 65 pinned to the shaft 54 and meshing with the gear 66 which is keyed to a sleeve 61 mounted for free rotation on the shaft 64. The sleeve 61 carries a bevel gear 68 which meshes with two bevel gears 69 and I6 rotatably mounted on pins II and I2 projecting radially from a hub which is pinned to the shaft 64 and revolves therewith. The gears 69 and I0 mesh with a further bevel gear I4, the outwardly projecting hub'of which is a sleeve mounted for free rotationon the shaft 64.

The sleeve has a gear I5 keyed thereto, and this gear is driven by a gear 11 keyed to the shaft 55 and arranged to rotate therewith. The construction is such that when the shafts 54 and 55 are driven in opposite directions at the same speed, the gears 68 and I4 will rotate equally in opposite directions and the shaft 64 will stand still; but if one of the outside shafts is driven at a higher speed than the other, then the central shaft will be slowly revolved in accordance with that difference in speed. The drives between the outer shafts and the central one have a 1 to 1 ratio, since the motor 30 should drive the drums at the same speed required for passing the fabric I2 through the printing zone. Hencefif the' speed of the motor 38 is not synchronized with. the speed of the printer motor I6, then the shaft mechanism arranged to control the'speed of that part of the apparatus which is to be synchronized with the reference unit. I prefer that this be stat R2 having its pivoted contact arm connected to be moved by the intermediate differential shaft 64 of the control apparatus.

This is accomplished by means of sprocket 88 (Fig. 2) and a chain '8I connected with a larger sprocket 82. The latter is suitably mounted on a shaft 83 supported 'on a'bearing member 84 and carryingatits opposite end one plate 85 of a friction clutch. The'other-element 86 of that clutch is keyed on one end" of the shaft 81 rotatably mounted on a bearing member 86 and it carries on its other end the pivotal contact arm 90 which sweeps over the contact points 82 of the rheostat R2 and makes electrical contact them- I with. A spring 94 mounted in a recess in the hub of the plate 85 and bearing againstthe bearing housing 84 holds the friction plates pressedtogether with a light pressure sufficient to move the rheostat arm but prevent damagein case of an excessive temporary difference in speed. Various. other constructional features may be substituted for or combined with the parts here described, as will be understood by one skilled in the art. The rheostat may also be made in accordance with standard construction and need not be here described; 1

The rheostat R: has sufficient resistance between the several contact points 'so'as to vary the speed of the motor 60 as required. The rheostat arm 90 and the associated parts are preferably so arranged that'this arm will stay in the intermediate'position shown in Fig. 4 when the shaft 64 is statlonary,-and the parts are so conheated and arranged that any over speed of the bearing base 84 which is thrown by the hand accomplished by means of suitable electrical apparatus which will control the speed of the driving motor for the drying drums. of an electrical system is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4, but it will be understood that one A simple form I has been stopped.

skilled in the art may employ other and desired motor 30 relative to the reference unit 50 will cause the arm 90 to move in such a direction as to increase'the current flow through the shunt field SF of the motor, and thereby slow down the speed of that motor. Similarly. any'under speeding of the motor 30 will move the rheostat arm in the opposite direction. Any suitable reduction speed mechanism may be substituted for the gears'or pulleys and 82 so as to insure that the rheostat armmovement will take care of the normal maximum range in speed difference of the two motors which are so constructed that v lever 96 and held in position by the pawl and ratchet 81; The lever 96 may be connectedto open a'switch 68 in the printer motor circuit (Fig. 4) when the clutch is disconnected, so that the drying drums may be run after the printer A modified form of differential unit is shown in Fig. 3. In this construction, the reference roll 58 is connected by a belt I00 with a pulley Ill fixed on the end of a shaft I02 and suitably mounted for rotation in a pair of bearings I03 and I84. The shaft I82 is' threaded between the two bearings and carries thereon a pulley we with a roove I08 within which rides the arms I08 of a yoke which forms one end of a lever pivoted at l I on the rheostat box. The other to the rate of movement of the fabric or the cloth end, of the lever is the rheostat arm I I2 adapted to sweep over the contacts of the rheostat R2.

This rheostat R2 is connected into the electrical system as shown in Fig. 4. The pulley IDG has a belt II5 driven by the small pulley IIS ,on the tion is such-that when the surface speeds or the reference roll 50 and the driving drum 25 are the same, then the pulley I06 will rotate with the shaft I02 and not travel longitudinally thereof But if the motor driving the drum 26 should lag or run too fast. then-the pulley IIIS will be rotated ata different rate from that o f pulley IOI and so will thread its way along the shaft I02 and carry with it the yoke I09 and swing the rheostat arm II2 over the contacts of the re sistance and thus vary the current flow to the w shaft of, one of the driving drums 26. The ratio of the diameters of the pulleys in this construcor the blanket or other driven part at a point where the'rate must be maintained uniform or regulated so as toinsure aproper printing operation. Hence, the speed synchronization is controlled by the rate of that reference unit, which dling apparatus may be controlled in accordas a variable tension in the cloth or fabric, and

shunt field'of the motor 30 and change its speed as required. Various other equivalent mechanical constructions may be employed in place of these two differential units of Figs. 2 and 3;

.which are so constructed and arranged that they will transmit any difference in speed of the two and bring the speed-of the controlled motor back to synchronization with that of the reference roll 50 or its driving motor.

. It will now be understood that the drums '35 for driving the back gray cloth may have their speeds controlled by similar mechanism, including a differential unit I (Fig. 1) which has oneof its shafts I2I connected by a belt I22 with, the reference roll 50 and its other shaft I24 connected by a belt I25 to a pulley on onepf the'drums 35. The intermediate shaft I21 of the differential unit is connected by a belt I28 with'thepulley I29 of the rheostat R3.- The rheostat is so constructed and arranged that its rheostat arm I30 will remain in a neutral position when the shafts NH and I24 are going at the same speed, but it: -will sweep over the contact points I32 in the proper direction to vary the speed oflthe motor 40 and bring it into synchronism with the refer ence roll 50 or its driving unit. The diameter ratios of the pulleys of this differential unit,

. therefore accomplished in the same way as is the control of the. speed of the other motor 311 and need not be further described.

I may use a steam engine or turbine or any suitable hydraulic, pneumatic or other type of the speeds of certain motors may be adjusted after such variation in tension or the like has occurred; yetthattype of control does notsatisfy the requirements of this invention,-since a, uniform tension and other conditions needed for the printing operation are not maintained where i there must be variation in such a characteristic before it can effect a. correction in the control system. The purpose of the speed control mechanism herein claimed is to; minimize variation and not to let it build up far enough to actuate a. control device.

If variation in speed-occurs even toa slight degree,the speed is automatically brought back to a condition of no variation, and

40 parent to one skilledin this art.

Many types ofmechanical and electrical apparatus may be substituted for those above described or employed therewith to improve the given installation.

working of the apparatus or to modify its operation in accordance with the requirements of a It will also be understood that various other motors of the printing apparatus may be be synchronized with the reference unit in themanner above described. Suitable starting and other mechanism may be incorporated in the system as desired so that the motor for the prime mover. Also, I may use any such motor for the automatically controlled secondary'motor, since the intermediate shaft of the differential apparatus may be connected to controlfinely a valve in a steam, air or hydraulic li'ne'or it may be connected to actuate other suitable types of control apparatus. I do not directly synchronize the two motor speeds, but I provide a structure wherein a speed reference unit is driven at a given desired rate and the speed ofthe controlled motor is.,coordinated with that unit. The reference unitis to be given a speed which is exactly the same as or is proportional several motors may be brought up to. full speed froma stationary condition or regulated as desired. Also, selector switch mechanism may be employed to give desired speed for the printer roll, so that a given peripheral speed may be obtained aftera different sized print roll has been installed in the machine. Switches and other control units may be used to insure both synchronization as above disclosed and separate and independent operation of the different power units, as may be' required at times, such as when the printing step has been finished and it is desired to run the remaining fabric or cloth through the dryin zone.

It will now be appreciated that the drawings and the above description are to be considered as illustrative of thegeneral principles of this invention and a preferred embodiment of construcassent erned in response to the lineal speed of the said I second roll and to the lineal speed of the cloth in the printing machine for varying the'speed of one of said electric motors and causing both of said motors to move the cloth at substantially the same speed. V s

2, In combination, with a printing machine having at least a printing cylinder driven by an engraving roll of indeterminate diameter and a device spaced from the printing cylinder and bearing a'direct relation to the speed of .the cloth, a; first electric motor for drivingdahe said device,'a second electric motor for 'driving the engraving roll and the printing cylinder, and speed control means responsive to the linear speed of both the cloth'in the printing machine and in the said device for making one of said electric motors function as a governed motor to keep the linear speed of the cloth in the printing machine and the linearspeed of the cloth in said device in synchrony.

ret re [controlled ate at. point remote froingrzthesprinting. zone, 1 ;a l speed reference unit- :independentzof eithen motor which mOVBStiII; an invariablesspeed ratio rel- V the speedgqfgtherclothiin themrintin zone a paused.rbyi-saidzrollgna spee'd control d- J ce i013 5171181.; secondary motor and mechanism automatically; governedubyz said unitiwhich 'conttelsgsaid :speed control device aiid causcs the secondary motor? to: move the 'clotha't" "substf ritially thersam'ei: rate as thatat which castes through the printiiig zofisb that tii'" 16th is held under a substantially "iiniio' W said remote point. V

6. A textile printingpparatus compr ng fa printing machine liaving-a-printiii "roll f lnd terminate sizey-"as's rate .determined by" tli'roll 'si I eja: rotatable drying drum for drying and moving the cloth, power mechanism including an independent motor for rotating the drum, mechanism for varying the speed-of one motor, speed control mechanism for the other motor, a speed yreference unit 3. A textile printing apparatus comprising a I printing machine having a printing roll of indeterminate size, power mechanism including a motor for driving said roll and causing it to move cloth through the printing zone at a rate determined by the roll size, power mechanism including an independent motor for moving the cloth at a point remote from the printing zone, a speed reference unit independent of either motor which moves in an invariable speed ratio relative to the speed of the cloth in the printing zone as caused by said roll, a speed control device for controlling one of said motors and automatically actuated mechanism governed by said unit which operates said speed control device and causes the controlled motor to move the cloth as substantially the same rate as that at which it is moved by the other motor, so that the cloth is held under a substantially uniform tension at said remote point.

4. A textile printing apparatus comprising a printing machine having a printing roll of indeterminate size, associated mechanism including a motor for driving said roll and causing it to move a strip of cloth and a second strip of textile material through the printing zone at a rate determined by the roll size, means including a motor and associated mechanism for moving said second strip at a point remote from the printing zone, a speed reference unit independent of either motor which moves in an invariable speed ratio relative to the speed of one of said strips as caused by the printing roll, differential speed mechanism having a part movable in timed relation with said unit and another part movable in timed relation with said second strip at said remote point, and control mechanism operated by a variation in the relative speeds of said parts which controls one of said motors and causes the second strip to move at substantially the same rate as the cloth moves through the printing zone.

5. A textile printing apparatus comprising a printing machine having a printing roll of inwhich moves in an invariable speed ratio relative to the cloth movement in the printing zone as caused by said roll and means associated with said unit which controls said speed control mechanism and causes the two motors to move the cloth always at substantially the same speed through the printing zone and over the drying drum and to hold the cloth under a substantially uniform tension between the printing zone and the drying drum.

7. A textile printing apparatus comprising a printing machine having a printing roll of indeterminate size, associated mechanism including a p1 imary motor for driving said roll and causing it to move cloth through the printing zone at a uniform rate determined by the roll size, power mechanism including an independent, governed motor for moving the cloth at a controlled and a uniform rate at a driving point remote from the printing zone, a speed reference unit independent of either motor which moves in an invariable speed ratio relative to the speed of thecloth in the printing zone as caused by the printing roll, differential mechanism having a part movable in a timed relation with said unit and another part movable in a timed relation with the cloth as moved by the governed motor, and speed control mechanism for varying the rate of the governed motor which is operated by a variation in the relative speeds of said parts and causes the governed motor to move the cloth at substantially the rate at which it moves through the printing zone.

8. A textile printing apparatus comprising a printing machine having a printing roll of indeterminate size, associated mechanism including a motor for drivimg said roll and causing it to move a stripof cloth and a second strip of textile material through the printing zone at a rate determined by the roll size, means including a governed motor and associated mechanism 'for moving said second strip at a point remote from the printing zone, a speed reference unit indein timed relation with said second strip, and c n trol mechanism operated byla variationrin the relative speeds of said parts which controls said governed motor and'causes it to move the second {strip at'substantially the same rate as the cloth Qinoves through the printing zone.

9.--A textile printing apparatus comprising a printing machine having a printing roll of .inde

terminate size, associated mechanism including a motor for driving said roll and causing it to move fabric to be printed and a back gray cloth through the printing zone at a speeddetermined by the roll size, means including two governed motors for moving said fabric and said cloth at two points .remote from the printing zone, a speed reference unit which moves in an invariable speed ratio relative to the speed of the fabric as caused by said printing roll, and mechanism automaticallycontrolled by said unit: which causesthe governed motorsto move the fabric and cloth at said points at substantially the same rate as that of the fabric in the printing zone and) thereby maintaining the fabric and cloth under substan 'tially uniform tensions.

10. ,A textile printing apparatus comprising 7 a printing machine having a printing roll of indeterminate size, associated mechanism including a motor for driving said roll and causing it to move fabric to be printed and a back gray cloth through the printing zone at a speed determined by the 7 roll size, a drum for, drying the fabric, a drum for drying the cloth, two governed motors for rotating said drums and moving the fabric and cloth away from the printing zone, a speed reference unit which moves in an invariablespeed ratio relative to the speed of the fabric as caused by said printing roll, and mechanism automatically controlled by said unit which causes the governed motors to move the fabric and cloth at substantially the same rateas that of the fabric in the printing zone and thereby maintaining the fabric and the cloth un'der substantially uniform tensions.

HERMAN A. SIVLI'IH. V 

